Simulating on rollover phenomenon in LNG storage tanks and determination of the rollover threshold

Rollover is a potential risk to the safety of LNG storage tanks during the LNG storage process, so study of its prevention method is very important. In this paper, rollover phenomenon in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank is modeled physically and mathematically. Its evolution is simulated using FLUENT™ software from the breakdown of stratification to the occurrence of rollover. Results show that the evolution consists of three phases: the initial phase where rollover occurs near the side wall of the storage tank; the turbulent phase where rollover transfers to the center of the tank; and the final phase where new layers evolve. Based on these phases, rollovers in 160,000, 30,000, and 5000 m³ LNG storage tanks are simulated at varying initial density differences, and a rollover coefficient is defined to describe rollover intensity. The simulations show that the rollover coefficient initially increases within a small scope and then increases rapidly with the increment of initial density difference. This turning point is chosen to be the rollover threshold, which is regarded as the critical density difference in this study. The critical density differences obtained from the simulation results of the 160,000, 30,000, and 5000 m³ LNG storage tanks are 3, 5, and 7 kg/m³, respectively, which can be used as their rollover criteria to ensure the safety of LNG storage tanks.     

Quantification of turbulence in cryogenic liquid using high speed flow visualization

A high speed flow visualization experiment was conducted to characterize the boiling induced turbulence when a cryogenic liquid is released on water. The advective transport of turbulent structures traversing through the liquid was captured and reconstructed using image processing software to obtain information on velocity components. The numerical results obtained from image processing were used to determine turbulence parameters like turbulent intensity, turbulent kinetic energy and eddy dissipation rate. An interesting aspect of the study was the formation of wavy structures called ‘thermals’ which were characteristic of turbulent convection. The thermals were found to act as a catalyst in increasing heat transfer and turbulence between water and cryogenic pool. The turbulent intensity was influenced by the turbulent velocity and had direct effects on the vaporization flux. Among the turbulence parameters, increase in turbulent kinetic energy resulted in faster vaporization of cryogenic liquid through enhanced mixing, whereas variations in the eddy dissipation rate had weak dependence on vaporization. Additionally, the initial height of cryogenic liquid was also found to strongly affect the vaporization mass flux.     

基于改进层次分析法的LNG气化站模糊综合评价

以某LNG气化站为例,从人、物、管理、环境4个方面考虑了影响LNG气化站安全的各个因素,建立了LNG气化站安全评价指标体系,利用改进的层次分析法确定权重集,并通过模糊运算求出评价结果。基于对运算结果的分析,针对LNG气化站各项安全指标,提出了相应的安全防范措施。     

基于IRML网络模型的LNG卸料系统故障传播分析

为研究陆地LNG卸料系统的物理设备、信息网络及人员操作的依赖关系和信息层、人员层对设备层故障传播的影响,基于面向基础设施弹性建模语言(Infrastructure Resilience-Oriented Modelling Language,IRML),从单层网络静态风险分析和多层依赖网络的动态传播2个方面,提出LNG...     

The effect of turbulence on the rate of evaporation of LNG on water

The present study provides new measurements of the rate of evaporation of cryogenic liquids, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid nitrogen (LN₂), floating on a water surface with different levels of turbulence intensity. The turbulent water surface is generated with an upward-pointing submerged jet with controlled jet velocity, an approach which has often been used in studies of free-surface turbulence. Direct measurements of the rate of evaporation were carried out for different pool thicknesses and turbulence intensities of the water surface. These tests reveal a strong dependence of the evaporation rate on the turbulence intensity, as well as a dependence on the thickness of the cryogenic liquid layer above the water surface. Models of LNG spills on water currently use a single rate of evaporation; these findings show that this approach is inadequate. Future models should incorporate the water turbulence intensity, and possibly the LNG spill thickness for improved accuracy.     

Application of fire suppression materials on suppression of LNG pool fires

An LNG pool fire is considered one of the main hazards of LNG, together with LNG vapor dispersion. Suppression methods are designed to reduce the hazard exclusion zones, distance to reach radiant heat of 5 kW/m², when an LNG pool fire is considered. For LNG vapor dispersion, the hazard exclusion zone is the distance travelled by the LNG vapor to reach a concentration of 2.5% v/v (half of the LNG lower flammability limit).Warming the LNG vapor to reach positive buoyancy faster is one way to suppress LNG vapor dispersion and reduce evaporation rate (thus fire size and its associated radiant heat) and that is the main objective in LNG pool fire suppression. Based on previous research, the use of high expansion foam has been regarded as the primary method in suppressing LNG pool fires. However, in 1980, another method was introduced as an alternative pool fire suppression system, Foamglas^®. The research concluded that 90% of the radiant heat was successfully reduced. Currently-called Foamglas^® pool fire suppression (Foamglas^® PFS) is a passive mitigation system and is deployed after the leak occurs. Foamglas^® PFS is non-flammable, and has a density one-third of the density of LNG, thus floats when an LNG pool is formed.This paper describes the study and confirmation of Foamglas^®PFS effectiveness in suppressing LNG pool fires. In addition, while Foamglas^® PFS is not expected to suppress LNG vapor dispersion, further investigation was conducted to study the effect of Foamglas^®PFS on LNG vapor dispersion. An LNG field experiment was conducted at Brayton Fire Field. The experimental development, procedures, results and findings are detailed in this paper.     

Evaluating the potential for overpressures from the ignition of an LNG vapor cloud during offloading

Ignition of natural gas (composed primarily of methane) is generally not considered to pose explosion hazards when in unconfined and low- or medium-congested areas, as most of the areas within LNG regasification facilities can typically be classified. However, as the degrees of confinement and/or congestion increase, the potential exists for the ignition of a methane cloud to result in damaging overpressures (as demonstrated by the recurring residential explosions due to natural gas leaks). Therefore, it is prudent to examine a proposed facility’s design to identify areas where vapor cloud explosions (VCEs) may cause damage, particularly if the damage may extend off site.An area of potential interest for VCEs is the dock, while an LNG carrier is being offloaded: the vessel hull provides one degree of confinement and the shoreline may provide another; some degree of congestion is provided by the dock and associated equipment.In this paper, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software FLACS is used to evaluate the consequences of the ignition of a flammable vapor cloud from an LNG spill during the LNG carrier offloading process. The simulations will demonstrate different approaches that can be taken to evaluate a vapor cloud explosion scenario in a partially confined and partially congested geometry.     

LNG accident dynamic simulation: Application for hazardous consequence reduction

The evaluation of exclusion (hazard) zones around the LNG stations is essential for risk assessment in LNG industry. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have been conducted for the two potential hazards, LNG flammable vapor dispersion and LNG pool fire radiation, respectively, to evaluate the exclusion zones. The spatial and temporal distribution of hazard in complex spill scenario has been taken into account in the CFD model. Experimental data from Falcon and Montoir field tests have been used to validate the simulation results. With the valid CFD model, the mitigation of the vapor dispersion with spray water curtains and the pool fire with high expansion foam were investigated. The spray water curtains were studied as a shield to prevent LNG vapor dispersing, and two types of water spray curtain, flat and cone, were analyzed to show their performance for reduction and minimization of the hazard influencing distance and area. The high expansion foam firefighting process was studied with dynamic simulation of the foam action, and the characteristics of the foam action on the reduction of LNG vaporization rate, vapor cloud and flame size as well as the thermal radiation hazard were analyzed and discussed.     

橇装式 LNG 汽车加气站防雷安全研究

橇装式LNG汽车加气站作为新型加气站的一种,其一旦发生雷击并引发火灾或爆炸将造成不可估量的损失,因此橇装式LNG汽车加气站的防雷安全十分重要。在结合橇装式LNG汽车加气站所处环境及其系统特点,雷电对其破坏机理和途径,分析了造成雷电灾害因子。通过计算分析,运用ADBSGP现代综合防雷技术从防直击雷、防闪电感应、防雷击电磁脉冲等方面入手,提出了安装外部防雷装置、采用防雷等电位连接技术作为防闪电感应措施,采取屏蔽和安装SPD作为防雷击空间电磁场和闪电电涌侵入措施。     

LNG燃料动力船三维建模及爆炸事故模拟

为了进一步推广液化天然气（LNG）燃料动力船舶的应用,利用计算流体动力学（CFD）软件FLACS进行LNG燃料动力船进行三维建模,综合考虑环境方面的因素,对LNG的泄漏扩散进行模拟,在此基础上进行爆炸事故后果模拟。对爆炸事故进行分析,得到特定事故情景下的LNG扩散半径、燃烧区域半径、爆炸对人以及建筑物的危害半径,模拟结果对船舶上的管线以及消防设施的布局有一定的指导作用,并且为进一步研究LNG燃料动力船舶的安全性提供了基础数据。